Social Services HNC

What is special about this course?

The HNC Social Services is a nationally recognised qualification and a valued award for people who want to work in a variety of social service settings, supporting individuals with varying needs.

You will gain an understanding of the values and principles of social services and learn how to integrate those values with necessary skills and knowledge, including the importance of anti-discriminatory practice in line with the National Care Standards and Scottish Social Services Council Codes of Practice.

Successful completion of the award will enable you to gain access to employment within a social service setting.

Special features

• You will undertake a 60-day work placement as part of your course, giving you the opportunity to complete three units from the SVQ Social Services and Healthcare (SCQF level 7). This is usually 2 days a week. However, if you are currently working more than 14 hours a week in a care related role you do not need to do a placement. You use your work experience instead.
• You can study full time or part time to suit your own personal circumstances
• Individual units can be studied as continuous professional development (CPD)

Accommodation

We offer modern student accommodation at a number of our locations.

Entry requirements

• Normally 2 Scottish Highers at grade C or above, OR
• 1 A level at grade D or above
• These should preferably include English
• Alternatively, a relevant NQ or NC level 6 award will be considered OR
• Completion of Foundation Apprenticeship Social Services and Healthcare
• You should also have experience in a social service setting or similar work, either in a voluntary capacity or as an informal carer
• Prospective students without the standard entry requirements are encouraged to apply and will be considered on an individual basis
• You may also be required to attend an interview
• This is a Category 1 PVG course: PVG Scheme membership is required to successfully achieve target qualification, where there is guaranteed contact with vulnerable groups in key elements of the course. For further information visit our PVG scheme webpage

Access routes

NC level 6 Group Award that includes Higher Care or a similar Higher.

Year 1 - HNC

Mandatory Units are:

• Care in contemporary society
• Leadership starts with me
• Health wellbeing and safeguarding
• Lifespan development theoretical approaches
• Promote effective communication
• Promote health, safety and security in the work setting
• Develop your practice through reflection and learning
• Social services graded unit 1
• Care practice

You must also choose three optional units which may include:

• Promoting quality of life through dementia skilled practice
• Understanding and supporting behaviour
• Mental health issues in a care setting
• Administration of medication
• Developing the individual within a team
• Health and social care: personalisation in practice
• Health promotion in a changing society
• Promoting positive behaviour
• Learning disability: current policy issues in care
• Supporting individuals with autistic spectrum disorder
• Working with autism
• Telehealthcare response
• Supervise the protection of people
• Understanding loss and the process of grief
• Collaborative working
• Caring for young people in secure care settings
• Supporting children and young people with additional support needs
• Supporting children and young people's behaviour

Option units available may vary depending on study location, for more information contact your chosen campus

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes

• EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
• EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
• EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Rest of UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and with a term time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.

There are a number of funding options available to UK students to help you pay for your studies and your cost of living while studying.

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK, including EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Part-time study is not open to international student requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK.

Funding

UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.

Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.